Free fall charging apparatus for a coking furnace

ABSTRACT

A coking furnace charging hopper includes a lower discharge which is connected to a transfer funnel leading to the furnace head, and a valve member is pivotally mounted in the funnel for movement between an axially extending fully opened position to a transversely extending closed position. The hopper includes a coal inflow gauge or device for measuring the inflow rate of the charging coal which is connected to a control for regulating the valve between its fully opened and fully closed position in order to maintain the volume or weight reduction of the coal in the hopper constant per unit of time.

United States Patent [l5] 4 3,682,339 Knappstein [451 Aug. 8, 1972 [54]FREE FALL CHARGING APPARATUS 3,368,948 2/ I968 Meunier et a]. ..202/262[72] A C(ZKING FURNACE FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS ventor: ohannesRecklinghamn' Germany 97l,533 9/1964 Great Britain ..2l4/l8 PH [73]Assignee: Finn Carl Still, Recldinghausen, Primary Examiner-Robert G.Sheridan Gennany ArromeyMcGlew and Toren [22] Filed: July 21, 1970 met[2]] App! 56820 A coking furnace charging hopper includes a lowerdischarge which is connected to a transfer funnel lead- [30] Fm A fl flPM M ing to the furnace head, and a valve member is pivotally mounted inthe funnel for movement Sept. 18, 1969 Germany ..P 19 47 200.5 betweenan axiany exmnding fully Opened posifion m a transversely extendingclosed position. The hopper US. Cl R, PH, includes a coal inflow gauge odevice fo measuring 214/181, ZZZ/53,3259 the inflow rate of the chargingcoal which is con- [51 Int. Cl. ..Cl0b 31/04 t d t a eontml forregulating the valve between its m fll'th z ll "1. -2. R;222/58, fullyopened and fully closed position in order to 222/59; 202/262 maintainthe volume or weight reduction of the coal in the hopper constant perunit of time. [56] References Cited 10 I 2. I

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1962 Malkomes ..2l4/l8 PH CONTROL DEVICEPATENTED AUB 8 SHEU 1 [IF 2 CONTROL DEVICE INVENTOR Johannes KnoppsteinATTORNEYS PATENTEDMJB 8 m2 SHEEI 2 OF 2 I9 CONTROL osvace M/VENTORJohannes Knuppstem ATTORNEYS FREE FALL CHARGING APPARATUS FOR A COKINGFURNACE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general tothe construction of coking furnaces and in particular, to a new anduseful free fall charging device for maintaining the free fall flow ofcoking material in a charging hopper substantially constant during thecharging of a coking furnace.

Charging devices for coking furnaces are known which includearrangements for dosing the coking coal into the furnace chambers byusing rotary plates or screw conveyors, for example, to ensureuniformity and regularity of the coal supply from the individualhoppers. Apart from the highly technical expenditure which is requiredfor such devices, the coal supply through the rotary plates and thescrew conveyors is frequently too slow for todays output requirements ofmodern coking furnace batteries so that the substantially simpler andfastest supply in the free fall hopper charging construction ispreferred. This is particularly true since means and ways are known toprevent the discharging difficulties of the coking coal, for example, bythe attachment of vibrators to the hoppers or by oscillating the closingelements. The rapid charging of the coking coal into the furnace chamberis also desired because of the resulting higher bulk density in thefurnace chamber and the reduced separation of the coking coal during thecharging. A disadvantage in the charging of coking chambers with theso-called free fall hopper cars is that the charging rate, that is, theamount of coal flowing into the furnace chamber per unit of time, ispractically uncontrolled and cannot be regulated and will vary withdifferent hoppers. The originally low velocity increases under theinfluence of different factors such as granulation and moisture of thecoal and also the quality of the surface of the hopper walls. Thisincrease, up to a maximum velocity, depends on coincidence and it canvary from hopper to hopper and either rise or decrease frequently. Thisis particularly disadvantageous in view of the legal requirement forreducing air pollution to a minimum during the charging of cokingfurnaces.

According to the state of technology the charging gases are eitherexhausted through the outer casings of the furnace chambers or they areburnt and/or washed and discharged into the open atmosphere or they aresucked into the receiver through the interior of the coking chamber andthe uptake while the underpressure is produced by a steam nozzle. In anycase the lay out of the suction elements presents difficulties if theymust be so designed that different amounm of charging gas are formed inthe unit of time per volume displacement and spontaneous evolution ofgas. This is more true if a charging process itself takes only aboutfrom 90 to 150 seconds and up to 35 tons of coking coal flow into themodern coking furnaces in such a period. The flow of the charging gaseswould be much easier to exhaust if the volume of the displaced air inthe furnace chamber caused by the movement of the coking coal, and alsothe evolution of gases as a result, could be increased from the start ofthe charging operation up to a predetermined maximum value and couldstay at this maximum value until the end of the charging operation.

In accordance with the invention, a free fall charging hopperarrangement includes a discharge of the hopper which is connected into acharging funnel, arranged at the furnace head, and which carries aclosing element which is arranged in the freely moving discharge fromthe hopper. The closing device is opened or closed in order to keep thevolume or weight reduction of the coal level in the hopper after theinitial opening of the closure for charging purposes at a constant valueper unit of time. (dv/dr-0) The closing element advantageously comprisesa mushroom valve, a rotary slide valve, or an ordinary plate valve, andis preferably an ordinary hinged valve member. The coal gauge can be ofa mechanical nature for example, a feeler suspended imide the hopper ona rope to sense the flow of the coking materials and to provide anindication of the weight of the materials in the hopper. It may also bea radial active indicator arranged outside the hopper. It is possible toprovide an electric capacitative feeler in the hopper for similarpurposes. The impulse for the control device can be taken from theweight reduction of the individual hoppers. To this end the hoppers aremounted in a known manner, for example, on an electric or hydraulicpressure cells which are in turn connected with the control device. Thecontrol device may be a commercial electronic control device. It isadvantageously set so that it closes the closing element before the coalhas issued completely and a small amount will rermin in order to providea gas seal in the hopper or the discharge funnel. This prevents thebreak through of the charging gases to the inside and the intake of theoutside air into the furnace chambers. The closing element can oscillatein the known manner during the charging operation to facilitate the taskof obtaining a constant charging current.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improveddevice for measuring and controlling the rate of clmrging coal movingthrough a charging hopper for charging a coking furnace.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coking furnacecharging hopper system which is simple in design, rugged inconstruction, and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there are provided and described preferred embodimentsof the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. I is a schematic or diagrammatic view of a coking chargingapparatus constructed in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of another embodiment of theinvention.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to thedrawings in particular, the invention embodied in FIG. 1 comprises acoal charging hopper l which is mounted on a carrier 3 by brackets 2 andit includes a lower converging conical end Ia which terminates in asmall diameter discharge lb. The hopper 1 may be positioned over atransfer funnel or furnace charge chute 4 which may be closed againstthe interior of a coking furnace 15 by a valve 5 which is rotatablymounted on a pivot 8 across a lower narrow portion 4b of the funnel 4.The funnel 4 is sealed to a chamber roof 14 of the furnace 15 above acharging opening 13 by means of a sealing ring 11.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, the charging hopper lcarries a measuring ring 30 having a top opening 30a for the entrance ofa charging material. Associated with the measuring ring and the hopper lis a capacitative coal gauge 16 which includes a loading weight 17 whichis connected through an impulse line to a control device 19. The controldevice 19, in turn, is connected through an impulse line 20 to amagnetically operated valve 21 which is employed for controlling theoperation of the valve 5 to open or close the transfer funnel to thefurnace interior 15.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the valve 5 is rotated by alever 7 which is connected through a forked head 9 to a piston rod 10which is movable in a fluid cylinder 6. Hydraulic fluid under pressureis supplied to a selected side of the fluid cylinder 6 by a hydraulicapparatus generally designated 24 which is connected through lines 25and 26 to the magnetically operated valve or solenoid 21. The hydraulicdevice includes a driving motor 50 for a pump 52 which is arranged todischarge through a check valve 54 into the line 25 and in the positionof the valve 21, as indicated in the drawing, through the line 23 to thehydraulic cylinder 6. When the valve 21 is reversed the pressure line 25connects to the line 22 in the cylinder 6. The return line 26 isindicated in one position of the valve 21 as being connected to the line22 and it will of course be connected to the line 23 in the reverseposition of the valve 21. The fluid is returned to a reservoir 56. Anover pressure line 58 leads backwardly from the line 25 to the reservoir56.

The device of the invention is operated as follows: During the chargingof the furnace 15, the hinge valve 5 is at first completely opened ormoved to the position indicated in FIG. 1, at which its major axisextends substantially parallel to the direction of the flow of thecharging material. During the charging the control device 19 receivesimpulses (electrical, mechanical or fluid) which provide a regulation ofthe amount of which the valve 5 is opened, and it is continuously movedtoward a greater opening or closing position in accordance with the flowof material through the hopper l. The signals which are transmittedthrough the lines 18 and 20 to the control 19 and from the control 19 tothe valve 21 depend on the discharge time to which the apparatus is set.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, similar parts are similarly designated butwith a prime added. In this embodiment the brackets 2' on the side ofthe hopper l' rests on pneumatic or hydraulic pressure cells 27a and 27brespectively, which are connected through respective lines 28' and 29'to a control device 19' which in turn is connected through impulse lines20' to the solenoid valve 21. The function and the operation of thedevice of FIG. 2 is substantially identical with that of FIG. 1 with theexception of the pressure cells 270 and 27b which function in the mannersimilar to the coal 4 gauge 16 and provide pulse signals which may inaccordance with the quantity of coal being fed through the hopper 1'.

What is claimed is:

l. A free fall charging apparatus for coking furnaces comprising acharging hopper having a lower furnace discharge connected through anarrowed lower portion leading to the furnace, a flow valve pivotallymounted in said narrowed lower portion and being pivotable between anaxially extending fully open position to a transversely extending closedposition, and pressure responsive means associated with said hopper andconnected to said valve and being responsible to changes of the amountof coal moving through said hopper to regulate said valve after it hasbeen initially opened between fully and partly opened and closedpositions in accordance with the amount of coal moving through saidhopper to maintain coal reduction constant.

2. A device, according to claim 1, wherein said pressure responsivemeans includes a measuring ring at the entrance of said hopper throughwhich the charged material is directed, a coal gauge mounted in saidmeasuring ring and having a weight depending therefrom extending throughsaid hopper, and control means connected to said gauge for regulatingsaid valve.

3. A device, according to claim 2, wherein said control means includesan electrically operated solenoid valve, fluid pressure means connectedto said flow valve for shifting said valve between opened and closedpositions and fluid pressure supply means associated with said solenoidvalve for controlling the operation of said fluid pressure means forcontrolling said How valve.

4. A device, according to claim 1, wherein said pressure responsivemeans includes a fluid pressure member, said hopper being supported onsaid fluid pressure member and said fluid pressure member beingpressurized in accordance with the weight of the hopper bearing thereon.

5. A device, according to claim 1, including a fluid pressure flow valveoperating cylinder, a piston slidable in said cylinder and connected tosaid flow valve to move said flow valve between opened and closedpositions, means for supplying fluid under pressure to a selected sideof said cylinder for moving said piston, and wherein said pressureresponsive means includes an electrical control system responsive to theamount of coal passing through said hopper for regulating said fluidsupply to said fluid pressure cylinder.

6. A device, according to claim 5, wherein said control system includesa coal gauge with a weight portion extending through said hopper.

7. A device, according to claim 5, wherein said control system includesa fluid pressure member, said hopper being supported on said fluidpressure member and influencing the pressure therein in accordance withthe amount of coal passing therethrough.

8. A device, according to claim 1, wherein said valve comprises avertical flap.

9. Free-fall charging apparatus for coking furnaces comprising a hopperwith a bottom outlet, a closing element adjacent said bottom outlet,secured on said hopper, a capacitative coal gauge arranged in saidhopper, which is connected with said closing element, a control devicearranged between said closing element and said coal gauge for openingand closing said closing element to keep the volume or weight reductionof the coal in the hopper constant per unit of time, after opening ofthe closing element, by influencing the degree of opening of the closingelement. 5

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the closingelement is a vertical flap.

l 1! i II 1R

1. A free fall charging apparatus for coking furnaces comprising acharging hopper having a lower furnace discharge connected through anarrowed lower portion leading to the furnace, a flow valve pivotallymounted in said narrowed lower portion and being pivotable between anaxially extending fully open position to a transversely extending closedposition, and pressure responsive means associated with said hopper andconnected to said valve and being responsible to changes of the amountof coal moving through said hopper to regulate said valve after it hasbeen initially opened betweEn fully and partly opened and closedpositions in accordance with the amount of coal moving through saidhopper to maintain coal reduction constant.
 2. A device, according toclaim 1, wherein said pressure responsive means includes a measuringring at the entrance of said hopper through which the charged materialis directed, a coal gauge mounted in said measuring ring and having aweight depending therefrom extending through said hopper, and controlmeans connected to said gauge for regulating said valve.
 3. A device,according to claim 2, wherein said control means includes anelectrically operated solenoid valve, fluid pressure means connected tosaid flow valve for shifting said valve between opened and closedpositions and fluid pressure supply means associated with said solenoidvalve for controlling the operation of said fluid pressure means forcontrolling said flow valve.
 4. A device, according to claim 1, whereinsaid pressure responsive means includes a fluid pressure member, saidhopper being supported on said fluid pressure member and said fluidpressure member being pressurized in accordance with the weight of thehopper bearing thereon.
 5. A device, according to claim 1, including afluid pressure flow valve operating cylinder, a piston slidable in saidcylinder and connected to said flow valve to move said flow valvebetween opened and closed positions, means for supplying fluid underpressure to a selected side of said cylinder for moving said piston, andwherein said pressure responsive means includes an electrical controlsystem responsive to the amount of coal passing through said hopper forregulating said fluid supply to said fluid pressure cylinder.
 6. Adevice, according to claim 5, wherein said control system includes acoal gauge with a weight portion extending through said hopper.
 7. Adevice, according to claim 5, wherein said control system includes afluid pressure member, said hopper being supported on said fluidpressure member and influencing the pressure therein in accordance withthe amount of coal passing therethrough.
 8. A device, according to claim1, wherein said valve comprises a vertical flap.
 9. Free-fall chargingapparatus for coking furnaces comprising a hopper with a bottom outlet,a closing element adjacent said bottom outlet, secured on said hopper, acapacitative coal gauge arranged in said hopper, which is connected withsaid closing element, a control device arranged between said closingelement and said coal gauge for opening and closing said closing elementto keep the volume or weight reduction of the coal in the hopperconstant per unit of time, after opening of the closing element, byinfluencing the degree of opening of the closing element.
 10. Apparatusaccording to claim 9, characterized in that the closing element is avertical flap.